At present, access to drugs is only through pharmacies; tens of thousands of forged prescriptions provide people with illicit drugs every year. Because Hungary is now the transit country of the Balkan route for international drug shipments from the Middle East to Eastern Europe, it is likely that the drug trade will develop there in the near future. Estimated numbers of drug users in Hungary range between 20,000 and 100,000. Although there has been some liberalization in terms of drug treatment, the legal consequences of illicit drug use remain severe. Hungarian drug abusers use a variety of substances including opiates, stimulants, soporifics and sedatives, hallucinogens, and organic solvents. The National Board Against Alcoholism has instituted a drug program consisting of four areas: a database and scientific studies, a preventive model experiment, therapeutic and rehabilitative model experiments, and training and development. 5 references